Ultimate Fishing Experiencehttp://ultimatefishingexperience.com
Fish With The Pros. Learn The Techniques. Get The Gear.Mon, 02 Mar 2015 17:51:03 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.0.1Find Better Deals on Fishing Gearhttp://ultimatefishingexperience.com/2015/03/01/get-better-deals-on-fishing-gear/
http://ultimatefishingexperience.com/2015/03/01/get-better-deals-on-fishing-gear/#commentsSun, 01 Mar 2015 22:00:14 +0000http://ultimatefishingexperience.com/?p=4570There is nothing worse than fighting traffic and spending time looking for something in the store, only to find your neighborhood retailer doesn’t have the item you want in stock.

Shopping on line is as convenient as a Google search, and allows you to shop for the exact products, colors, styles and options you want, while also comparing prices.

Regardless of whether you are shopping for the best fishing tackle, electronics and accessories for your boat or just about anything you can think of, your online search should start with the manufacturer, and then go to Amazon.com. Better yet, go to Amazon.com/Smile and a percentage of your purchase will go the charity of your choice at no additional cost. Amazon has been successful at beating almost everybody’s price, because they are dealing in such incredible volume. Much like the big box stores, they are able to leverage the power of their platform to get better prices from their manufacturers and suppliers. Some Amazon purchases qualify for free shipping which is another important factor to consider. That’s not to imply that Amazon is always the best bet, but it’s a good benchmark price to compare to. While the prices on Amazon are typically good, sometimes you can find better deals elsewhere.

On a recent purchase for a new Motorguide Wireless W75 Saltwater 24 volt 48″ Trolling Motor, I was able to find a much better deal on that particular product at The Digital Oasis. The best price I found on Amazon was $827.13, I found the exact same model, new in the box at TheDigitalOasis.com for $667.11. Deals like that warrant spending the extra time to search.

Regardless of where you purchase online, you should read the fine print and be sure you are getting exactly what you think you are paying for, and check the sellers ratings and reviews. It’s also a good practice to review the return policy in case you are not happy with your purchase. If you see any red flags, move on.

]]>http://ultimatefishingexperience.com/2015/03/01/get-better-deals-on-fishing-gear/feed/0How to Choose the Right Trolling Motor for Your Boathttp://ultimatefishingexperience.com/2015/02/03/how-to-choose-the-right-trolling-motor/
http://ultimatefishingexperience.com/2015/02/03/how-to-choose-the-right-trolling-motor/#commentsWed, 04 Feb 2015 04:21:06 +0000http://ultimatefishingexperience.com/?p=4551Electric trolling motors have become standard equipment for both bass fishermen and saltwater inshore anglers. There is no denying the fact that a trolling motor gives you the ability to cover a great deal of water, quietly and efficiently, which ultimately helps us catch more fish. There are a lot of options out there, so how do you go about choosing the motor that’s right for you? Budget certainly comes into play for most of us, and that factor will definitely come into light when we discuss some of the non-essential options you may want. First, lets focus on the basics.

How big is your boat?The bigger the boat, the more thrust required to maneuver it. It takes very little power to move a canoe, a jon boat or even a small technical poling skiff. On the other hand, you will want 75 – 105 Lbs of thrust to keep a heavy bass boat, large pontoon or bay boat moving all day.

How many batteries are dedicated to the trolling motor?
12 volt, 24 volt or 36 volt motors will require 1 to 3 batteries respectively, but your options here go beyond just having enough power for a motor with 50 Lbs of thrust. It will also effect how much juice your trolling motor has at the end of a long fishing day. Fishing in current will also tax your trolling motor batteries substantially more, so if you frequently fish in places with moving water, you should consider at least a 24 volt trolling motor. You can apply the same rationale if you go on fishing camping trips where you may not have the chance to charge your trolling motor batteries before your next day on the water. While it may seem that more power is always better, the trade off is the space and weight you will need to sacrifice for the additional batteries. With that in mind there are a lot of options for trolling motor batteries including small, light weight and lithium ion batteries, all of which will cost substantially more than a deep cycle battery.

Mounting Options
Bow mounts offer the best combination of boat control while fishing. Transom mounts are typically used on canoes and small pond boats where gas motors aren’t being used. If you’re a fly fisherman and don’t like the idea of having anything on the deck of the boat that you can hang a fly line on, you may consider trim tab and lower unit mounted trolling motors.

How to choose shaft length?The biggest factor to consider here is the distance from the mounting position to 2+ feet below the surface of the water. If you have a large bay boat with a bow that rests 30 or more inches above the surface of the water, a 48 inch shaft won’t be long enough. It might suffice in glassy conditions, but if your bow is moving up and down in a 2 foot chop you’re prop will come out of the water so your going to want a longer shaft. If you’re thinking, why not just go with a 60 inch shaft for any boat the answer is simple. The mounting bracket will be set as close to the front of the boat as you can get it, so that when it’s deployed, the trolling motor sits perpendicular to the tip of the bow. The longer the shaft, the more real estate it is going to take up on your boat when stowed. You’ll want to make sure it’s not hanging over the gunwale when stowed so you don’t knock the head unit off at the dock.

The most essential of the non essential options
I have had boats with manual controls, foot pedal controls and wireless key fab type remotes. If you have the budget to upgrade from a manually controlled hand till unit, this is a good place to spend it. There is a simple reason that most bass boats have foot pedal controlled trolling motors. Foot pedals offer hands free control so you never have to take your hands off the reel when fishing, or more importantly while fighting a fish. In short, foot pedals are the most efficient way to go. On the down side, foot pedals take a little getting used to and if you have any balance or mobility issues they can be a little more challenging. Furthermore, traditional foot pedals operate with a cabled pulley system and are typically not made for saltwater applications. Many saltwater anglers opt for the key fob style remote which isn’t exactly hands free like the foot pedal, but it requires less effort than manual control and gives you the flexibility to control the trolling motor from anywhere in the boat. Several years ago Motorguide introduced, and has since improved, a wireless foot pedal option that offers the best of both worlds. It’s a low profile crescent moon shape and can go anywhere in the boat, including on top of a casting or poling platform on a flats skiff. It’s the answer to hands free control, from anywhere in the boat, without the big clunky cable style foot pedal on the front deck.

GPS & Sonar Interface
The biggest innovation in trolling motor technology over the last decade has been the integration of GPS and Sonar interface. Both Motorguide and Minn Kota offer their own versions of the GPS feature which enable you to mark a position or a route. For an example, if you are fishing in current and want to hold your position the trolling motor will hold you within 10 feet (or so) of that position. You can also use the GPS feature to memorize and recall a route, or maintain a heading. More recently, both manufacturers have began offering sonar integration. It’s great to have your sonar transducer already built into the trolling motor lower unit, but it’s important to note that the interface only works with certain units. Motorguide has partnered with Lowrance, while Minn Kota keeps this feature in the family with their sister brand, Humminbird. If you are considering that option, check to make sure that the trolling motor you want works with the GPS/Sonar unit you have or want. Adding this option to your trolling motor definitely gives you the latest and greatest accessory for your boat, but it comes at a hefty price point which will add $750 or more to the price of the trolling motor. The technology and the price of those options will likely improve over the next couple of years, until they do, I’ll stick with what I’ve got.

Anybody can enjoy watching Roland Martin fishing on TV, but spending the day on the water fishing and learning from this living legend is truly something special. On Roland Martin’s Signature Series Fishing Clinic you’ll experience something that millions of television viewers have dreamed of, but only a select few have ever done. Spend a day on the water with the legendary Roland Martin for one-on-one instructional bass fishing trip on famed Lake Okeechobee. Use your time on the water with Roland to learn how to catch bigger bass and more of them using tournament proven bass fishing techniques or simply enjoy a day of fishing and great story telling with “The Great American Fisherman”. Whether you give this Ultimate Fishing Experience as a gift for the fisherman in your life or you treat yourself to the fishing trip of a lifetime, it’s safe to say that tapping into just a fraction of Roland’s knowledge is going to make you a better angler.

Florida Waters:

Go on guided, instructional fishing trip with Roland Martin on a lake that is as famous for big bass as Roland is for catching them. Lake Okeechobee is considered to be one of the best bass fishing lakes in the country. Saltwater inshore and nearshore fishing trips with Roland are also available in Southwest Florida as well as the Florida Keys.

Roland Martin:
What can you say about Roland Martin? On or off screen, Roland is one of the most recognizable anglers in the world. A pioneer in professional bass fishing since the earliest days of Ray Scott’s B.A.S.S. tournaments, Roland has achieved more in his career than any Pro Angler, past or present. 19 Bassmaster wins, nearly 100 top 10 finishes, 9 Angler of the Year titles and over $1 million in prize money, most of which was earned in the earlier part of his career, well before the current trend of huge money payouts. No wonder he has been inducted into the IGFA Hall of Fame, The Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame and The Professional Bass Fishing Hall of Fame. Roland’s contributions to the sport of fishing only begin with his tournament career. As a fixture in outdoor television for as long as there has been outdoor television, Roland has been taking viewers on his fishing adventures around the world, sharing tips and techniques on his television series, “Fishing with Roland Martin”.

The Ultimate Fishing with a Living Legend Experience includes:

Roland Martin Signature Series Fishing Clinic – Full day of on the water instructional fishing with Roland Martin (up to 2 anglers)

]]>http://ultimatefishingexperience.com/2014/07/26/go-fishing-with-roland-martin-living-legend-experience/feed/0Florida’s Most Famous Trophy Bass Lakehttp://ultimatefishingexperience.com/2014/07/25/floridas-most-famous-trophy-bass-lake/
http://ultimatefishingexperience.com/2014/07/25/floridas-most-famous-trophy-bass-lake/#commentsFri, 25 Jul 2014 20:16:47 +0000http://ultimatefishingexperience.com/?p=4481There is a short list of lakes around the country with a reputation for consistently producing a large number of trophy class largemouth bass. Year after year, Florida’s famed Lake Okeechobee is at or near the top of that list because of the shear number of trophy class largemouth bass being caught and released. Locally referred to as “The Big O”, Lake Okeechobee is the largest freshwater lake in the state of Florida. It is the seventh largest freshwater lake in the United States and the second largest freshwater lake (the largest being Lake Michigan) contained entirely within the lower 48 states. Okeechobee has over 450,000 surface acres of water covering 730 square miles, and is exceptionally shallow for a lake of its size, with an average depth of only 9 feet. With it’s head waters over 100 miles to the north in Orlando, water flows into Lake Okeechobee from several sources, including the Kissimmee River, Fisheating Creek, Lake Istokpoga and Taylor Creek. The lake is part of the 154-mile Okeechobee Waterway that extends from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean, making it the most direct way to navigate to opposite sides of the state, without having to plot a course around the Florida Keys, making Lake Okeechobee as important to trade as it is to recreation.

From a recreational perspective, Lake Okeechobee is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise. Home to numerous species of flora and fauna, Big O is most famous for it’s big bass. It is considered to be one of the best trophy bass fishing destinations in the world. If you are like most bass anglers, you’ve dreamed of catching a trophy largemouth on Lake Okeechobee, and if you haven’t made it to The Big O yet, it’s likely on your bucket list. If you’re considering a trip to Florida, the good news is that all of the state’s renowned fisheries as well as most of the lesser known ones have the potential to kick out a big bass on any given day. The reality is that only a fraction of the millions of anglers who target trophy largemouth annually will actually catch that fish of a lifetime. So how do you stack the cards in your favor? First and foremost, if you are not familiar with the fishery, plan to fish with someone who is. There are a number of reputable fishing guides who literally spend hundreds of days on the lake every year. They know where and how to catch the big ones. Secondly, if possible, try to plan your trip when bass are their biggest … just before the spawn. The spring spawn tends to come a little earlier in South Florida than it does the rest of the country. For your best chance to catch a trophy largemouth, target dates between December and March, but you better book your fishing guides and accommodations early because the whole world knows that Lake Okeechobee is a great place to have an Ultimate Fishing Experience.

]]>http://ultimatefishingexperience.com/2014/07/25/floridas-most-famous-trophy-bass-lake/feed/0Bass Lure Selection by Seasonhttp://ultimatefishingexperience.com/2014/07/23/bass-lure-selection-by-season/
http://ultimatefishingexperience.com/2014/07/23/bass-lure-selection-by-season/#commentsWed, 23 Jul 2014 13:41:34 +0000http://ultimatefishingexperience.com/?p=4411Bass are among the most sought-after freshwater game fish. Everyone from professional anglers to weekend fishermen spend countless hours trying to discover the magic lure to catch bass every time they fish. But the truth is, there is no single bait that mimics all the forage opportunities bass have throughout the year. Knowing the primary forage bass eat at any given time improves your chances of catching them.

Specific, reliable forage opportunities for bass come and go with the seasons. In spring, bass have the most complex feeding habits, so let’s start there.

SPRING INTO ACTION

There are three stages to a bass’s life cycle in the spring: pre-spawn, spawning, and post-spawn. Each stage has its own available forage. When the temperatures begin to rise, a bass’s metabolism speeds up and it needs more food to survive. During spring, all species of fish start moving toward shallow bays and north- or west-facing bank lines to capture the sun’s warmth. Larger baitfish that survived the winter limit the available food sources for bass. Shad, minnows, bream/bluegill, and other smaller species are all primary targets for bass. In spring, bass are not picky eaters and devour anything available. Presenting larger baits better mimics the available forage size.

Pre-Spawn: As spring advances, bass start preparing for the spawning season. Bass feed heavily prior to the spawning ritual because they know that during the 10 to 14 days of spawning they will not feed at all. As the water warms above 50 degrees, bass change their primary forage to a high-protein diet. This helps egg development in females. Because of the protein content, crawfish are a highly sought-after food source during pre-spawning. Lures that have the size and color of lake crawfish species are the best options for mimicking what the bass search for during this time of year.

Spawn: During the spawning phase, a bass’s attitude changes, becoming defensive. Bluegill, bream, crawfish, salamanders, and even small turtles will attack a bass’s nest. Bass will aggressively assault these species, not for food but as a threat. First, a bass will try and run these pillagers away from the nests. If an invader returns, the bass will kill it. Anglers should choose baits that imitate these species that threaten bass eggs.

Post-Spawn: The last phase in the spring cycle is the post-spawn. In this cycle, the females leave the males to guard the fry. The majority of the female bass can be found in deeper water, resting from the spawning ritual. The males will stay near the nests, protecting the recently hatched fry. Bait options vary depending on whether you target male or female bass. To target male bass guarding fry along the shorelines, use top-water baits. The fry stay very shallow and near the surface, so the male bass protecting them swim just beneath and attack anything that poses a threat to the fry. Surface baits that make noise and scare the fry become an immediate enemy of the male bass.

Female bass migrate to slightly deeper water; although they are healing from the spawn, they are very hungry. Just about any bait that’s slow is a good choice. By now the water has warmed significantly and the shad in the lake will migrate to the shallows for their own spawning season. Their migration intersects with females moving toward deeper water, and the shad become a primary food source as the two fish cross paths.

After the bass spawning cycle is complete in spring, the tables turn and the bass becomes the predator again. As the water continues to warm, other species begin spawning cycles. Bass utilize these spawning species to their advantage for easy feeding opportunities.

As the water temperature gets to about 70 degrees, shad start to spawn; this typically occurs about two or three weeks after the bass spawn. When shad follow a bait to the boat, that’s a telltale sign of shad spawn. That signifies male shad looking for a female mate. At the water’s edge, you will also notice small groups of shad chasing each other around items such as rocks, dock pylons, vegetation, or any debris in the water. This is how they spawn.

I like to call the shad spawn Mother Nature’s way of fattening up the bass after they have spawned. Hungry bass gorge themselves on this abundant food source in the shallow waters. Once you notice the shad spawn, choose baits that mimic the same size, shape, and color of the shad in your local lakes. Silver or white baits with a green or blue hue are very effective.

Bream, bluegill, and other sunfish species start their spawning rituals after the shad spawn. You’ll see this by locating small, cleared-out circles cleared on the bottom of shallow pockets. A good bream/bluegill bedding ground will have 20-50 of these circles inside a 20-yard square. Large bass prowl the edges of these spawning grounds, waiting for weak or tired bream/bluegill to swim by. These species have a tremendous color variance across the country. It is important to investigate the local waters to best match the colors of the species. During this phase, bait choices should mimic the bream or small sunfish in your area.

SUMMER LOVIN’

As the season moves into mid-summer, forage opportunities for bass open up, consisting of everything from shad that have migrated back to deeper waters to bream/bluegill that live in shallow water most of the year and crawfish that are plentiful in all lake depths. As summer progresses, shallow waters become extremely warm and bass seek deeper water for cooler temperatures. Bass use creek channels, ledges, deep grass lines, or points to migrate in search of shad. Finding one of these structures and presenting baits that mimic shad will increase your chances of landing bass.

FALLING FOR IT

In autumn, the water cools down and everything in the lake seems to migrate to the backs of creek channels. As the fall rains wash nutrients from summer growth into the lake, these nutrients trigger plankton explosions. Shad, in search of this food source, migrate towards incoming water. Your lake’s larger feeder creeks fill up with shad and the bass are never far behind. Bass use the fall shad migration as a means to fatten up for the winter. This time of year bait choices are nearly unlimited. Bass aggressively feed and eat anything that resembles a shad. Spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and top-water baits all allow you to cover a lot of water and draw violent strikes from bass.

As the water temperatures continue to decrease in winter, forage starts to die off. These dying species become prime targets for bass. Most shad species cannot survive when the water temperatures fall below the mid-40s: they become easy meals for bass. This time of year, if you find shad, you find bass. Use baits that fall through and around shad. The slow-falling bait mimics a dying shad and bass aggressively strike.

BABY, IT’S COLD OUTSIDE!

Once winter has a firm grip, feeding opportunities for bass become slim. Cold-blooded bass are the same temperature as their surroundings. The bass’s metabolism slows tremendously and they don’t need to feed as often, which means they’re difficult to catch. The available food sources are the largest of the forage species that survive the cold. Your best chance is to mimic any species in the lake with larger bait and a very slow retrieve.

As an angler, there are some general feeding habit rules that should be considered. First and foremost: bass are opportunistic feeders. When presented with an easy meal and the energy used to capture it is less than the energy gained from eating it, the bass sees this as a benefit and takes the opportunity to eat. Second: there are geographic feeding habits that can’t be ignored. An example is the West Coast. Bass have adapted to eating the trout that are stocked in lakes; this forage has to be considered when fishing lakes stocked with any kind of fingerlings. Lastly: crawfish are in every lake, river, and stream, making them available, year-round forage. When choosing baits that mimic crawfish, pay close attention to water temperature. The colder the water, the slower your presentation.

By knowing the feeding habits of bass, anglers can present a bait choice that the bass seek out. Choose baits that mimic the size and color of the forage bass are feeding on for the season. There are many keys to a successful day on the water and using the proper bait starts you in the right direction.

About the Author:

Mike Cork has been bass fishing since he was old enough to hold a fishing rod. He’s a bass fishing writer, and a current member of B.A.S.S., American Bass Anglers, and Bass Life Associates.

]]>http://ultimatefishingexperience.com/2014/07/23/bass-lure-selection-by-season/feed/0Determinationhttp://ultimatefishingexperience.com/2014/06/19/determination/
http://ultimatefishingexperience.com/2014/06/19/determination/#commentsThu, 19 Jun 2014 15:04:40 +0000http://ultimatefishingexperience.com/?p=4379Determination. It is truly the only way to accomplish a desired goal, whether it be in life or specifically, as in my case, fishing. Fishing can be ultimately rewarding to those with the determination to be successful, and infuriating to others that may waiver in their dedication and determination.

In a world where success is measured by results produced, setting goals is very helpful. My primary goal was to become a better fisherman by putting my time in on the water and learning as much as possible from each outing. If I was able to do this, then my “results” of becoming a successful tournament and trophy angler would be achievable. Finally, and maybe the most important part of that goal, was to never let fishing become something that was no longer enjoyable.

Being very competitive and determined can have its drawbacks if not managed properly. I can recall times where I had multiple bad outings and tournaments in a row. These issues can be enough by themselves to discourage an angler. Combined with going through personal issues, which at different points I have, fishing had become no fun. Every time I failed at either catching a trophy bass, or placing highly in a tournament, it brought me down.

Like many of you, fishing for trophy bass and fishing in tournaments is a “hardcore” hobby of mine. It is what I am usually doing when not working. It can be expensive, time consuming, and both physically and mentally exhausting. To be successful it takes a lot of time on the water, an open mind, and the determination to work through all of the challenges to learn something. I had to go through my breaking point, to reestablish my fishing equilibrium. Looking back, it’s easy to see that going through the tough days and learning nothing was my biggest failure. I learned the value of doing my homework, keeping an open mind and figuring out how to harvest new knowledge and information from every outing, regardless of whether it was a good day or bad day on the water.

The competitive fire to do well in tournaments and hunt lunkers burns in my belly once again. I look forward to each battle knowing I may lose some, but I will win the war. I am a fisherman, just one cast away from my next goal. If you have a dream and a burning desire to fulfill it, whether it’s to become a sponsored Pro Angler, an outdoor photographer or a basket weaver is irrelevant. Determination to do your homework, put in your time and learn from every mistake will fuel your journey along the path to success.

About the Author
Jonathan “Tumbleweed” Stanco is a tournament angler, trophy bass hunter and motivational speaker. A spinal cord injury put him in a wheelchair at the age of 17, but would not keep him from pursuing his passion and inspiring others to do the same. He proudly represents Naked Bait Co. and Power Tackle.

]]>http://ultimatefishingexperience.com/2014/06/19/determination/feed/0Sailing Through Summerhttp://ultimatefishingexperience.com/2014/06/18/sailing-through-summer/
http://ultimatefishingexperience.com/2014/06/18/sailing-through-summer/#commentsWed, 18 Jun 2014 16:01:48 +0000http://ultimatefishingexperience.com/?p=4354Up to date Guatemala Sport Fishing reports with Captain Kiwi Chris Van Leeuwen.
See why Guatemala is known as the Sailfish Capitol of the World.

FISHING THROUGH JUNE 15th

May 29th, the Thor Sheffield group (above) joined us on ALLURE II for one day of fishing and one night down at the Lodge. A mixed group with Javier and Toby living in Guatemala, Chris in Costa Rica and Thor and John from Islamorada, Florida, the pressure was on to get the guys into some fish. We tried our luck in middle of the ‘Pocket’ about 15NM straight out front where we found good blue water. A slow start we picked away at a few mahi’s with Toby landing this nice bull ensuring fresh mahi tacos for lunch….

John's first Blue Marlin was tagged and released.

From here we worked our way to the western side of the pocket from the deep water to about 600ft and picked away at the sailfish in the morning with 7 releases before lunch from 10 bites and all the guys getting into a few releases. After lunch we got the one we were looking for, John Timura an experienced fisherman, had never caught a blue marlin before and was chomping at the bit to try. We’d had some nice bites from the sailfish on the teasers with pitch baits so he’d had enough practice in the morning session to have a crack and soon after lunch we raised a blue in the 150lb class on the left bridge teaser. The mackerel was pitched and the fish was teased to the back of the first wave right behind the boat where the John had the mackerel waiting, a perfect switch, great bite, freespool, lock-up and John was hooked into his first blue. Great job with the bite and on the rod!!

The fish came up jumping then stayed down and dirty for the rest of the fight, putting up a tough scrap on the 50lb stand-up. We got it up boatside, tagged, a couple of photos and released back to the deep….

Nice going John….
In the afternoon we had a couple more sailfish releases…

For Javier…

And Thor…
Before we had another blue marlin up on the left short teaser that nailed the pitch bait, shot to the other side, whacked the right teaser and ate another bait on the left rigger…..we missed that one twice. All in all though an excellent day on the water with 4 mahi’s boated, 11 from 15 sailfish bites and 1 from 2 blue marlin bites. Good times, great fishing!!

The Dishmans enjoyed a great couples getaway.

June 13-14-15 Hill Dishman was back down with his wife Donelle and brother Jamie and Cindy Dishman for a couples weekend. Friday the 13th it was the brothers only as the girls spent the day in Antigua and what a great start to the day…..The blue water was just 5NM off the beach with a very defined current line from dirty inshore water to deep blue almost purple water. Fishing just off the current line we were into them straight away. The early morning bite was on and we released 6 fish from 6 bites in the first 40 mins of the day. From there on in it was steady action working out to the drop off at the bottom of the ‘Pocket’ 8NM out to as far as 12NM off the beach. A great day on the water in excellent conditions we ended up with 21 releases from 31 bites. The next day the girls joined us and we ended up having a late start leaving the dock at around 0900, the blue water had pushed in even closer to 3-4NM off the beach, a bit slower today though still steady action with 9 releases from 14 bites and a few nice mahi’s for lunch and dinner.

Hill and Donelle Dishman with a typical sized sail before release.

And Cindy with another.
We were back at the dock by 1600 to see the World Cup clash England vs Italy…..

Sunday the 15th it was just Hill out as Jamie and Cindy headed back home to Houston and Donelle spent the morning by the pool down at the Lodge. That morning we worked the 1000ft to 400ft mark at the bottom of the pocket again. Beautiful day out there, deep blue water and again steady fishing with 7 releases from 10 bites and back at the dock for midday to head to Antigua and an enjoyable afternoon up there for Fathers day. For the weekend then, 37 billfish releases and several mahi’s all just a few miles off the beach, it doesn’t get much better than that!

We are still here and so are the fish!!

We’ll be out again this weekend and have some trips booked for August, if you want to come down to get into them get in touch with us to reserve your dates. Also don’t forget we are taking bookings for the upcoming busy months November and onwards through 2015, it has been a great year here and we’re looking forward to more of the same next season!!

To a fisherman, there is no such thing as too much tackle or fishing gear, but if you’re not sure what kind of fishing they do or what kind of gear they already have, it can be a challenge to buy the right stuff. Problem solved…

A universal tool that every angler needs is a line cutter. Boomerang Tool’s handy Snip Fishing Line Cutter is razor sharp for cutting monofilament, fluorocarbon and braided super lines. Better yet, it is on a retractable lanyard so you can clip it on your belt or tackle bag and always know where it is. A built in LED light makes it easy to trim your fishing knots when rigging or fishing at night. ($15.27)

Sebile’s most famous lure model may also be it’s most versatile. From bass to billfish, both freshwater and saltwater species are lured to this lifelike, weedless, soft plastic swim bait. It comes in a range of fish catching color patterns and sizes that gamefish instinctively want to attack. Swim it, jerk it, pause it…what ever you do with Sebile’s Magic Swimmer, it swims, darts and falls like the real thing. ($25.36)

If you subscribe to the theory that there is no such thing as too much tackle, then you certainly understand there is no such thing as too much storage space. TackleWebs makes a range of innovative, weather resistant tackle and storage management systems that can be installed temporarily or semi permanently on any kayak, cooler or boat. ($49.99)

Kaenon’s patented SR-91 technology delivers polarized lenses that give you undistorted, laser sharp vision. Kaenon offers a ton of stylish frames and colors to match your style. Available in grey (G) or amber/copper lenses (C) and that filter 12%, 28% or 50% of the light to help you optimize for any type of fishing conditions. Kaenon’s C50 Polarized Lens is ideal for fishing in low light conditions. Perfect for sight fishing at dawn, dusk and on overcast or rainy days. ($214.00)

Whether you are fishing from the bank or from a friend’s boat, this innovative tackle storage system will help you keep all of your gear organized and dry. A lot of thought went in to the design and features of this tackle management system that set it apart from all the rest. A built in sunglass case and light the shines inside and outside of the NOMAD are just the beginning. It includes 4 PT3600 trays to keep your tackle organized, and still leaves room for your wallet, keys and phone. A built in rain cover keeps everything dry in foul weather or rough boat rides and extra wide, padded shoulder straps make it comfy on your back. ($171.86)

TFO makes a fantastic product at a great price. Having fishing legends like Gary Loomis, Lefty Kreh and Flip Pallot design these purpose built fishing rods ensures that you are getting a great product, which TFO backs up with a lifetime warranty. This Gary Loomis designed, 4-piece spinning rod will save you hundreds of dollars in oversized baggage fees the airlines want to charge you on your next fishing vacation and it’s perfect for the car for those impromptu fishing sessions on your lunch break or after work. ($149.95)

If you spend any time in the outdoors, you most certainly know that Mother Nature can show her ugly side any time the mood strikes Her. Fishing can be fantastic in the rain, but nothing can dampen your day like a rain jacket that leaks through the seams or zipper. Pro Anglers on the Bassmaster Elite Series like Kevin VanDam and Aaron Martens wear Simms rain gear because Simms quality and comfort is unparalleled. Best of all, it’s guaranteed to stop wind and rain so you stay dry and comfortable even when Mother Nature is having a miserable day. ($499.95)

If you are wondering if the GoPro Hero3+ Black Edition is better than the previous GoPro models the answer is YES. If features a SuperWide angle, better battery life, better image quality in low light conditions, +,+,+. Capture broadcast quality HD video and stunning wide angle still pictures which are all now streamable to your mobile devices. ($399.99)

Malibu’s Stealth 12 Fish & Dive Package Sit on Top Kayak comes ready to fish with angler specific features that help set it apart from the others in it’s class. Unparalleled stability, a patented center bait tank system, built in rod holders and an enormous amount of storage space make it special, and at 60 pounds it’s manageable to load, launch and store. ($989.28)

Give a man a fish and feed him for a day, send a man on a Signature Series Fishing Clinic and make him a better fisherman for life. Ultimate Fishing Experience creates customized fishing trip of a lifetime fishing vacation packages in the U.S., Cuba, Costa Rica, Panama and Guatemala. For the avid angler, Signature Series Fishing Clinics provide a day of instructional fishing with top-level pro anglers and TV personalities. It’s a unique opportunity to fish with Bassmaster Champions, Redfish Cup Allstars, Mad Fin Shark Series or Extreme Billfish Series Captains to learn the techniques they use to compete at the sport’s highest level. Fishing clinic and bass fishing, flats fishing, sport fishing and fly fishing vacation packages are tailored to each angler. Gift Certificates are available so whether the angler in your life wants to learn how to become a better angler or simply wants to go on the fishing trip of a lifetime, they can use your gift to create their own customized Ultimate Fishing Experience or Signature Series Fishing Clinic. ($350 – $7,500)

]]>http://ultimatefishingexperience.com/2014/06/05/10-ultimate-gifts-for-fishermen/feed/0The Best Bass Fishing Lakes in the U.S.http://ultimatefishingexperience.com/2014/06/04/the-best-bass-fishing-lakes-in-the-u-s/
http://ultimatefishingexperience.com/2014/06/04/the-best-bass-fishing-lakes-in-the-u-s/#commentsWed, 04 Jun 2014 14:43:26 +0000http://ultimatefishingexperience.com/?p=4237Wondering where the best place to go bass fishing is?

If you’re like me, and you need to satisfy the urge to get your string stretched more frequently than your schedule allows, than the answer might be a golf course or neighborhood pond after work. Any place I can sneak away for an hour or two during the week to unwind and catch a few fish satisfies my appetite to fish until I can make a full day trip with the boat on the weekend. You would be surprised at how good bass fishing can be in those little bodies of water, mostly due to lack of fishing pressure. It’s reason enough to keep a travel rod & reel combo and a small tackle backpack in the car at all times. I really prefer the backpack for tackle storage when I’m fishing on foot, or when I’m fishing in someone else’s boat, because it has room to store my rain gear, glasses and wallet. On the other hand, when you are ready to hook up the boat and drive to the lake or even book a fishing charter in one of the nation’s famed trophy bass lakes, then you have a lot of options. Fortunately our friends at BASS compile an annual list of the 100 Best Bass Fishing Lakes in the U.S. to help you narrow that list down. Not so surprisingly, Florida, Texas, Alabama and California lakes dominate the list, with Florida earning five spots in the top 55. That bodes well for Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission’s largemouth bass management program.

So how does the foremost authority on bass fishing determine what lakes make the Top 100 list? I can assure you it is not a random process. BASS is an organization with hundreds of thousands of members, ranging from casual weekend anglers to the top Professional Bass Fisherman in the world. Input from anglers and data collected from tournaments are key factors in proving how a particular fishery may rank. Keep in mind, the list does not include privately managed lakes like Promise Ranch in Florida and Ray Scott’s Bass Fishing Retreat in Alabama, but it does include 100 of the best publicly accessed lakes in the country. Whether public or private, just being on a lake I know is considered one of the best places to catch trophy largemouth ratchets up the excitement level on every cast. It’s that anticipation of a trophy catch that makes fishing such a unique experience. So take a look at what Bassmaster Magazine has ranked as The 100 Best Bass Lakes of 2014, when you are ready to go catch that fish of a lifetime, pick your lake and plan your own Ultimate Fishing Experience.

]]>http://ultimatefishingexperience.com/2014/06/04/the-best-bass-fishing-lakes-in-the-u-s/feed/0Sonar Fishing Clinic Experiencehttp://ultimatefishingexperience.com/2014/05/15/sonar-fishing-clinic/
http://ultimatefishingexperience.com/2014/05/15/sonar-fishing-clinic/#commentsFri, 16 May 2014 01:43:04 +0000http://ultimatefishingexperience.com/?p=4190Did you know that top level Bass Fishing Tournament Pros will often spend one or more practice days locating fish and fishy structure with their GPS / Sonar / Imaging units and never take a cast? If you’re like many other anglers you have spent a lot of money on your electronics, but you probably haven’t figured out how to set them up properly or use them to their full potential. If you find yourself turning on your electronics and wondering what you’re looking at or you just haven’t figured out how to unlock your sonar/imaging/gps unit’s true fish finding potential, there is a better way to start finding and catching more fish. Let’s face it, reading the manual is boring, time consuming and sometimes complicated. There is no better way to learn then with a hands on, interactive Experience, on the water in a real live fishing situation, taught by a seasoned Pro.

The Ultimate Sonar Fishing Clinic Experience is an innovative, interactive and fun way for you to learn how to locate and catch more fish by learning how to properly set up you electronics and understanding how to use them to their full potential.

On your Ultimate Sonar Fishing Clinic you’ll have a front row seat in Pro Angler Mike DelVisco’s tournament rigged bass boat as he explains sonar and fish finding. As Mike is going through unit setup, screen functions, display interpretation and finding structure and fish, you will be sitting in the passenger seat of his boat viewing everything on an iPad. Everything he does on his unit is streamed right to the iPad in real time so you don’t have to lean over his shoulder or squint to see the screen on his dash mounted electronics. You’ll be comfortable, relaxed and have all of the key functions and screen shots right in your own hands. Sessions can also be recorded and edited into a DVD hard copy for future reference.

Best of all, since the Ultimate Sonar Fishing Clinic is taught on the water in a real fishing situation, after you’ve mastered sonar and imaging, you may use the rest of the day to learn different bass fishing techniques or simply enjoy the time fishing with Mike on one of Tennessee’s best bass fishing lakes. To get the most out of your Experience you can book a second day of instructional bass fishing to learn advanced bass fishing techniques and tournament tactics while targeting largemouth and smallmouth bass on Douglas Lake in the Ultimate Smoky Mountain Bass Fishing Experience.

Tennessee Waters:
Mike’s home water is Douglas Lake in Dandridge, TN which is not only ideal for teaching a sonar clinic, it was also ranked as one of the Top 100 Bass Lakes in the country making it the perfect place to put what you learn to use in real fishing situations.

Pro: Mike DelVisco:
Instructor, Professional Bass Tournament Pro Mike DelVisco is a veteran touring Pro Angler and a regular presenter at fishing seminars. Mike was one of the first to use multimedia technology to help breakdown complexities of sonar and make it simple to understand. He has taught numerous attendees at trade show seminars and Bassmaster University classes how to utilize and understand sonar and imaging. Now, he’s taking his class to the water. Currently competing on the PAA Bass Fishing Series, Mike spends much of his time in between tournaments sharing his passion for fishing by teaching others and making appearances for his sponsors.